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Disney Popcorn Gallery

From Margaritas to Ice Cream to Creme Brulee and more, we’re always collecting options and photos to share with you. And we quickly realized that there was one salty snack missing from our gallery list! What’s a trip to Disney without at least one bucket of Popcorn?

I think Disney popcorn is some of the best popcorn anywhere, and while newfangled snacks and treats will come and go, the classics will never go away.

You’ll find carts selling popcorn all over Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as well as in some of the resorts that also draw visitors, like Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. But there’s even more variety to it than that, so we’ve put together this handy gallery to showcase all the great popcorny options available!

You Never Get Tired of Disney Popcorn!

We’re going to share with you some of our favorite popcorn and popcorn-related goodness, but be sure to let us know your favorites or anything we don’t mention in comments below! Also, please keep in mind, especially in regard to menu items that include popcorn, that menus are constantly changing, so you may not always see these items when you visit a restaurant.

Disney Popcorn: A Classic

In need of some popcorn at Disney? You never have far to look. In fact, if your first stop is Magic Kingdom, you encounter a popcorn stand as soon as you set foot onto Main Street USA! Some of our readers say that Disney popcorn is the best-tasting in the world — and who am I to disagree?

Disney Popcorn!

And another great bit of news — Disney popcorn is vegan and gluten-free! Popcorn is naturally devoid of gluten. But the kernels are popped in a combination of coconut, corn, and canola oil, and are seasoned with kosher salt, so there are no animal products used. (Disney cautions that because the popcorn is prepared in outdoor locations, there is potential for cross-contamination. When in doubt of a food’s ingredients, be sure to ask for an ingredient list.)

Souvenir Buckets

If you think the fun stops with the snack, well…then let me show you something completely awesome. In addition to the crunchy goodness, you can also amass a completely fabulous collection of souvenir buckets should you be so inclined.

Collect different ones from each Disney park! Here’s one from Animal Kingdom, featuring Mickey and Minnie in cute safari gear, and Asia in the background!

Collect Souvenir Popcorn Buckets from All of the Parks!

Specially-themed souvenir buckets are one of the coolest (and probably most profitable) things that Disney comes up with, snack-speaking. Normally, there’s a tie-in to a season or a special event, but sometimes, you’ll find them for no particular reason other than a fun souvenir opportunity. Plus, these hook onto the stroller, so it’s a perfect snack to keep dipping into throughout the day.

One of our recent favorites is the R2D2 Popcorn Bucket. This little guy arrived in time for Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios a few years ago. But these days you can pretty much always find him at the Studios, and in Tomorrowland in both Disney World and Disneyland.

Unlike many of the souvenir buckets, which actually serve to hold the popcorn, this one is more like a carrying case for the standard paper cartons. But how great is it that you can repurpose it as a carryall after the popcorn is gone? (Note that Dumbo’s ears are prone to breaking in your luggage on the way home!)

But my favorite has to be this adorable Snowman Mickey. This one may have been retired last year, but we’re hoping for a comeback!

Mickey Snowman Popcorn Bucket

Caramel Corn

To begin a conversation about Disney’s take on Caramel Popcorn, we must head West! To Disney California Adventure, where it’s the stuff of culinary legend.

Caramel Corn at Disney California Adventure

What sets California Adventure’s caramel popcorn apart is that it starts as regular, buttery Disney popcorn, and then the caramel is lightly applied. So what you end up with is a perfect salty-sweet balance.

You can see from this photo that the corn actually looks very buttery, with just a touch of caramel color. It’s SOOOOOOO good!

Caramel Corn

You’ll only find this option at California Adventure (there are two stands — one on Paradise Pier and one over by Soarin’). And sadly, this method isn’t employed anywhere that we’ve seen at Disney World. But there’s still some great caramel popcorn available back East — it’s just different.

This is a swoon-worthy snack, I’ll tell ya! And it really is my favorite caramel popcorn in the World. It’s a must-try!

Cozy Cone Popcorn

We were so excited to see all of the new and extremely fun menu items at the Cozy Cone Motel when Cars Land opened in Disney California Adventure last year. And an entire cone devoted just to flavored popcorn?? Sign me up!

With an extra kick of salt and a sour dill and vinegar flavor, this one was a winner when we sampled it!

Dill Pickle Popcorn at Cozy Cone Motel

And you can get your snack in standard Cars Land cartons or Lightening McQueen souvenir containers.

Disneyland Popcorn Cart Roastie Toasties

So of course, we all love the fun snacks and treats that you find in Disney World and Disneyland. But at the end of the day, it’s the little details that really set the parks apart. And one of my favorite pieces of “added magic” are the Roastie Toasties throughout Disneyland.

These little guys give busy cast members a hand by cranking the old-fashioned popcorn makers, and they are always themed to represent the part of the park where they’re located. Here’s the Main Street U.S.A. cart…

Main Street U.S.A.

…And the little dude that’s helping out there!

Main Street Popcorn Man

At Toon Town, there’s a similar cart, offering freshly popped corn.

Toon Town Popcorn Kiosk

The Roastie Toastie here is an engineer.

Toon Town Popcorn Engineer

Tomorrowland has its own popcorn cart as well, with a decidedly futuristic vibe.

Tomorrowland Popcorn Kiosk at Disneyland

But the Rocketeer helping to tend the popcorn is definitely vintage!

The Rocketeer Roastie Toastie

Can you guess who might be lending a hand outside of the Matterhorn?

Popcorn Cart Near Matterhorn in Disneyland

None other than Harold, of course!

The Matterhorn Popcorn Yeti

And over in New Orleans Square, it looks like one of the ghosts just may have escaped from the Haunted Mansion.

New Orleans Square Popcorn Cart

Or maybe he’s just looking for a few recruits to join him!

Haunted Mansion Popcorn Ghost

There’s so much variety in the characters that Imagineers have dreamed up. It’s a lot of fun to walk around the park just to take note of details like this.

Gourmet Movie Popcorn

Recently, the AMC Theater at Downtown Disney underwent a major overhaul to its concessions. Now, in addition to getting standard movie fare and drinks, you can get a huge array of snacks, hot food, and specialty drinks.

Choose your flavor — caramel, cheese, or kettle corn — and then spruce up your corn by adding in other ingredients. You can choose from nuts, candies, cookie bits, and other items you’d find on an ice cream topping bar. In fact, the popcorn counter shares space with the ice cream counter, so the toppings do double duty.

Gourmet Popcorn -- Caramel Corn with Add Ins

You end up with a mix that’s entirely your own and freshly made. That sounds pretty great, I’m thinking.

Pre-Packaged Popcorn

Sometimes the sheer amount of popcorn variety in the parks amazes me. As if all of this weren’t enough, you can also find pre-packaged, flavored options!

But if you like savory-sweet combos, you might really appreciate this one!

Chocolate Cheddar Popcorn Close-Up

Not only are pre-packaged popcorns great for grabbing a snack that can be partially consumed and tucked away for later (a little easier than a paper carton anyway), but they also make terrific take-home souvenirs.

Popcorn in Menu Items

For a while, popcorn on foods seemed to be an extremely hot trend in culinary circles. We saw it pop up (ha!) on menus all over the resort.

Some of the items are still available as we publish this, and a few have rotated off the menu — most likely due to a change in seasons. Still, we thought it would be fun for you to see the inventive ways Disney chefs have used this fun ingredient!

One real winner is the Trio of Concession Sweets at Flying Fish. In addition to a Cherry Limeade Popsicle and a Peanut Butter Whoopie Pie, there’s a delicious Popcorn Mousse, topped with Caramel Popcorn. Rich and buttery mousse is totally the way to go!

The Wave…of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary is currently offering a trio of sorbets for the hot summer months. But one fun dessert option they featured in the past was a Gelato Trio. Popcorn Gelato? Yes!

Popcorn lovers — and I totally number in that group! — I hope you enjoy the many faces, flavors, and containers of popcorn that Disney brings to you. A seemingly inexhaustible list of popcorn options should keep the enthusiast in your group busy for the entire visit!

What is your favorite Disney popcorn option? Leave a comment below and tell us all about it!

I’ve never bought popcorn at Disney! I have been there at least 15 or 20 times, and I love popcorn, but it just never occured to me! Probably because I was trying to save my appetite for our next meal, or I was still too full when I saw the carts. WDW portions are so big, I am never hungry for a snack! But since we will be on the dining plan this trip, and snacks are included, I definately will give the popcorn a try. If nothing else, I have to get close enough to the carts to see those little guys that turn the crank. Another one of those “stop and smell the roses” things at Disney that people will miss if all they do is run from ride to ride. Thank you for a great (as always) article.

I love the souvenir buckets featuring the parks…I think they are a good value and are made in the USA to boot! The lids fit perfectly and also have a little hook that attaches to the handle when the lid is off.
And all for about $5!

Another benefit of the collectible popcorn buckets (of which I have many!) – They keep the popcorn fresh for days (if it lasts that long!) I even use them at home if we don’t finish a bag of microwave popcorn. I’ve kept fresh baked cookies in them, too. The food doesn’t get that plastic-y taste, like when you store it in other plastic containers.

At Disneyland, standard cylinder popcorn buckets are $6, boxes are $4. My kids love popcorn, and the buckets are nice because we can put a lid on the popcorn and leave it in the stroller while we are on rides. We bring an empty bucket with us, and then buy a box to fill the bucket. FYI- one box fills a bucket, with an inch to spare.

If you’re at Disneyland and want an R2D2 bucket, I suggest getting your droid at the Tomorrowland Terrace for $12, which includes a kids powerpack (goldfish, yogurt, apples, string cheese, and a drink) rather than at a popcorn cart for $12. The powerpack alone is $5-6, and R2D2 doesn’t hold a full $4 box of popcorn.

I always get popcorn at least once, and usually more than once, while at WDW. Mostly I just get a box at one of the popcorn stands. But that caramel corn at Epcot’s Germany pavilion is calling my name. Next trip for sure.

I have a picture of Oogie Boogie as a Roastie Toastie in the cart outside of the Haunted Mansion when it is decked out with the Nightmare Before Christmas theme! Let me know if you want it for adding to your collection.

Not at WDW or Disneyland(never been) but on the cruise line is a fantastic popcorn option! Besides the delicious packaged, flavored popcorn a available before shows, Animators Palate features a delicious buttered popcorn soup! The soup has a yummy creamy texture and comes with caramel corn to sprinkle on top! It is fabulous! We encountered this soup on our cruise on the Fantasy but I imagine it is available on the Dream and maybe the Magic as it receives upgrades this fall. Anyone going on a cruise I highly recommend this delicious soup that is brought to you!(you do not order at animators the first night with the show, you receive this soup and an appetizer trio and then pick an entree and dessert). It is fabulous as is the show!

I start each trip by getting a souvenior bucket. The bucket handle can be popped off and attached to your stroller or purse/backpack strap. My popp-ed corn is then fresh for as long as I need it to be. I bring the bucket home and it does hold snacks and keeps them fresh or I also use to house small toy parts of my daughters.

The BEST FLAVOR popcorn ever was at Cozy Cone last year and was a spicy sweet flavor. It was wonderful and I dream about it still. Wish I could make at home.

When I got the R2 bucket at HS in December I was rather disappointed in the caramel corn I got. It was rather bland & appeared to have been sitting for a while. But then I’ve been spoiled by the fresh stuff from Kuchen.

Sue, I was thinking the same thing since I found my pic of Oogie cranking from 2004 the other day.

We found a new-to-us flavored popcorn cart in Epcot in front of the Imagination Pavillion. They sold three flavors (in addition to regular popcorn): cheddar cheese, sour cream and chive, and buffalo and blue cheese. You could get either a box or the standard plastic bucket for about a $1 more than regular popcorn. Also, they would mix and match flavors. We loved the sour cream and chive combined with the buffalo and blue cheese so much – we bought a bucket, put the lid on it, carried it on the plane and used it for a Super Bowl snack last week!

“Disney cautions that because the popcorn is prepared in outdoor locations, there is potential for cross-contamination.”

Well, that’s depressing news to us Celiac sufferers — if it made sense! I mean, I can understand Disney always wanting to cover its legal tush, but what exactly does that warning mean — that someone could walk by with a stalk of wheat and “magically” (it IS Disneyland, afer all) pose a threat?

I don’t get how an outdoor location can cause a potential for cross-contamination. I didn’t have a problem on my last visit a few years ago; hopefully that continues…

thg: I’m trying to duplicate the Disney popcorn taste, too. If you hit on sonething, please share. (In my quest, I’m only as far as mushroom corn kernels and hot air poppers.)

WORST decision Disney has done!!! I understand things are done for “PROFIT” – However, the old popcorn was the BEST Popcorn we have ever tasted! The Pop Secret is TERRIBLE! We have given them second chance after second chance and as season pass holders, we have tried them over and over, and EVERY TIME the Pop Secret has tasted burnt, and has a ton of flaky pieces in it, and the taste? NOT even close. We understand profit… but from here forward, what use to be an easy 5-6 bags a day for us has now become ZERO!! TERRIBLE decision Disney, TERRIBLE!!!